after placing LO the week after Memorial Day I was really feeling guilty but thanks to some folks here an a very big thank you to 75 I know she was safer now,a little background before thejob part,my wife worked in the school system all her life,Mich an Fla so when I visited tuesday she informed me that she now had a job teaching the mentally challenged students an she rolled her eyes an looked around the room,I'm guessing that she thinks all the folks there are her "students" well yesterday when I came thru the door she told me she would be right with me she was just getting the class ready for recess,I took a seat an waited to see what she was up to,she went over to an old guy sleeping in a recliner,head on his chest an grabbed him by the scruff of the neck,an one arm an said no sleeping in my class Buster your going outside to get some fresh air,now this old guy was one of those ya see that just shuffles along moving about 6" at a time an he was about to get thrown out on his ear,no aides around so I had to bribe her with some Snaps an Good&Plenty candies that she loves,she forgot about theold fella an came right over for the sweets,the moral so to speak of the story is now she's in her own little world,it took a month but don't feel guilty when ya place a LO,it was harder on me than her I'm sure
Good for her; she's found her niche. Hope the principal (staff) keep an eye on her classroom management style.
My hb calls one of his group gatherings (7 men w/dementia) who Purdue U. speech pathology students work with school. AND he's told me he doesn't like it and won't go back. He's tried to tell me why, but his speech is confabulated; so I don't really know why except I think they ask questions and expect answers and have some sort of worksheets which, I hope, the students check off. Only one more session until fall. I hope I can convince him to go at least 1 more time because while the guys are in their group, the wives have a support gathering which I really enjoy.
ol don--your posts always make me laugh, and this was no exception! How great that your wife has a "purpose" and hopefully, it will make her days in the facility seem more normal to her, a continuation of her old life.
So glad she's found her "purpose". Let's pray that the staff there will help her with her "students". WIll be interesting as time progresses. Maybe an apple for the teacher would be in order.
OlDon, your story reminds me of my Uncle..he went to a facility called OPICA in LA. He would be collected in a bus and home by 3 or 4 in the afternoon. He left the house every day with his brief case. He was dressed for work, neat and snappy. He would assist too, thinking he must have been the CEO. He had been president of a major major well known company..
Ol Don....I love it.....it brings back memories of when my husband was in the AD facility. The ladies and gentlemen there were all much older than he was but in much better shape so I spent a lot of time with them...doing activities, painting fingernails, conducting sing a longs and I got to know them very well. One particular lady was a former artist who had alcohol related dementia and was still a "party girl". One day I asked her how she was doing and she grabbed my arm and pulled me aside. She whispered in my ear..."Well, my son paid a lot money to send me on this cruise and I am not real thrilled with the choice of men here." I almost cried trying not to laugh out loud.....
I hope your wife continues to enjoy her teaching......
Sandi I know what you mean about not laughing,my dad spent his last years in a "home" an he could tell some whoppers,told the minister of our church once that my mother was shacking up in the woods with a bunch of hippies an now she was pregnant(95 at the time)the list go's on I think theres a book here,and I'm positive there will be more from the classroom
My DH goes to day care 3 days a week. the only way I could get him to go was to tell him he works there. and the day care people know that and play along. he happily gets on the bus in the morning and comes home at 3:30 tired and happy to be hom. Days when he doesn't go to work, he wants to know why not. and what kind of job it is if he only goes 3 days a week. congratulations Ol don, your wife is happy!! Enjoy it.
Ol Don, I am so glad that she is settling in so well. In a way you are absolutely correct. It is harder on us than them once they decide to settle in. They have forgotten that they ever had another life and we get to grieve as they go step by step. You have done such a good job with her care up to this point, I am sure you will make an excellent advocate for her continued care.